THE WORKINa BCEEME IN COMPOUND COPSES. 235 



all time, subjected to the present regime. If to this be added 

 the fact that private woods are also for the most part worked as 

 coppice with standards, it will be perceived that the area occupied 

 by forests treated according to this method must be measured by 

 millions of acres. Thus our copses with standards constitute un- 

 questionably the principal source of our forest wealth. They would 

 be for France a veritable mine of treasure, if properly treated and 

 endowed with a good reserve. We can now understand how im- 

 portant an operation the selection of coppice standards is, and how 

 much special and assiduous care and attention it demands from 

 those whose duty it is to conduct it. 



SECTION 



The Working Scheme. 



§ I. Selection Plan of Standards. 



The points we have drawn attention to in the preceding pages 

 relative to the choice, number, and distribution of the trees to be 

 reserved over copse are in conformity with the prescriptions laid 

 down by the Royal Edict of 1827. ^ But what we have .said with 

 reference thereto, as well as the prescriptions actually enforced by 

 that Edict, necessarily possess the character of general rules. It^is 

 easy to understand that in applying these rules, it may be expedient 

 to modify them according to the various prevailing conditions of 

 soil, crop, and vegetation, and according to the nature of the owner 

 of the forest concerned. The duty of suggesting these modifications 



(1) Section 70. — At the exploitation of ihe underwood 20 poles from it sliall he [reserr. 

 d per acre. M hen this cannot he done, tlie reasons for not so doing shall ie stated m 

 the Report sxCbmitted on the completion of tlie operations connected with the selection and 

 marling of the standards (procfe-verbal de balivage et de inartelage). 



Standards of the 2nd. and higher classes sltall not be feVed unlesf they are in a 

 decaying state or are incapable of flourishing up to the ieginning of the next Rotation. 



Section 134 — All the prescriptions given in the second, third, fourth, tfth and 

 sixth chapters of Sub-head II. of the present Decree are applicalile to woods belonging to 

 Cmnrnunes and Public FoimdatioTis, ivith the exception of Sections 68 and SS, and 

 saving (lie modifications which result from Sub-head VI of ihe Forest Code and (he 

 prescriptions of tlie present Sub-head. 



Section 137. — In coupes in woods lelonging to Ooinmunes and Public Founda- 

 tions, the reserve prescribed by Section ~Oofthe 'present Decree shall consist of 16 

 3ta,ndarda at least, and »/ 50 at most per acre- 



In cuttings made in the Re':erved Fourths the number of trees yrestrved shall he 24 

 at least, and 40 at iMst per acre. 



